Two days after this incident, we topped a rise, and looming clear against the horizon, I saw two great conical peaks. For a moment I gazed at them, and then, as a thin column of vapor drifted from the one on the right, the words of old Katchilcan came vividly to my mind. In enumerating the dangers that must be met in order to reach the city of Mictolan, he had mentioned the “two blazing mountains.” Was it possible that the two volcanoes on the distant horizon were these? Was I on the right track? Was I nearing my goal? My hopes rose. Unless the old priest had actual knowledge, how had he guessed that there were two active volcanoes here? He had declared it was written in the codex, but I had not noticed symbols of volcanoes. I examined the paper again while the Indians at sight of it dropped to the earth. The priest was right! Yes, there, half-hidden by involved decorations and symbols, were the two cones topped with conventionalized flames like scarlet tobacco leaves. I think my heart skipped a beat or two as I recognized them. I _was_ on the right track; if there was any truth in the Book of Kukulcan, the hidden city lay just beyond those smoking peaks. But what of the other perils? Were they also actualities? Was there a Valley of Death, a Tunnel of Serpents, a Pit of Alligators and all the rest? I laughed at myself for even speculating on such nonsense. No doubt they were all fanciful allegories. How could there be eight deserts in this well-watered, forested land? How could there be raging whirlwinds, demons and fiends? Volcanoes, snakes, alligators, caves, bridges, yes; but the others--nonsense!